Posted by Bruce Bilmes and Sue Boyle
, January 21, 2009 10:40
The plans for the proposed redevelopment of Coney Island in Brooklyn, NY has alarmed many frank fans and hot dog historians: there’s been talk of replacing the original Nathan’s (Roadfood.com review), at the corner of Surf Ave. and Stillwell Ave., with a hotel. The chief executive of Nathan’s, Eric Gatoff, has responded by saying they “intend” to keep this Nathan’s right where it is. See Karim Fahims’s entry in The New York Times’ City Room blog.
We’re not convinced. “No intention to replace” sounds to our ears intentionally less definitive than “we absolutely will not replace.” The proposed rezoning of the land that Nathan’s sits on will allow for a far more profitable use of the space. It’s hard for us to see how the Nathan’s Famous corporation will choose not to take advantage of the situation. At the very least, we can see a hotel/entertainment complex being built on the site, with some version of the restaurant founded by Nathan Handwerker in 1916, remaining on the ground floor. We’ll keep Roadfood Digest readers up-to-date on the situation.
